Chapter 8

After spending hours getting dressed, the maids suddenly stormed out, leaving Bella alone in the room. She stood there, admiring herself in the wedding dress as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. This was the wedding dress she had longed to wear but always imagined doing so for someone she truly loved, not in the context of an arranged marriage. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and someone entered. Bella narrowed her gaze at the blue-haired lady approaching her with a smile "Hey," the lady greeted. "Hi," Bella responded, curious about who she was. "I am Elise," the lady introduced herself."And I am here to get you for the wedding," Elise added. Bella trailed off, admiring Elise's beauty. Her skin was as white as snow, and her red lips captivated Bella's attention "Are you Alex's sister?" Bella managed to ask. Elise responded with a touch of sarcasm, "Alex... guess he asked you to call him that" Bella's gaze deepened, intrigued by Elise's cryptic remark "Besides, I am not just his sister," Elise continued confidently. "I am his best friend, confidant, and mistress" Bella gasped, realizing what Alex meant by having a mistress. She frowned at her thought, 'What else could she expect from the future king? She knew he was up to no good from the moment she laid eyes on him. If Elise is the headmistress, that means he must have many other mistresses too" She pondered to herself, contemplating the situation. "Shall we head to the wedding?" Elise's voice snapped Bella out of her daze, bringing her back to the present moment "Sure," Bella responded, grabbing the edge of her dress. "You are truly beautiful, just as they say," Elise remarked Bella's eyes widened in surprise "Excuse me?" she said, her brow furrowing 'Why on earth would they send the prince's mistress, to fetch the prince's wife for the wedding?' she thought with frustration, letting out a slight groan. 

   The sky was clear, calm, and peaceful. However, Bella couldn't ease the turmoil that was bubbling inside her. Her pulse was racing, and all she could do was take several deep breaths while her hands trembled. Her presence was announced, and finally, the procession began. "Go," Elise said, and Bella closed her eyes, inhaling sharply before starting to walk towards the alter. As she walked towards the altar, her fingers clutched her dress tightly, her gaze scanning the unfamiliar faces surrounding her. Each person wore a look of displeasure as if they were shaking with impatience, eagerly awaiting the end of the ceremony. Everyone was elegantly dressed, and the hall seemed sparsely populated, mostly filled with women and a few elders. Among the crowd, she spotted her stepmother and Henry. Henry smiled at her, seemingly encouraging her with whispered "You can do this" From afar, Bella smiled back at him and inhaled sharply. She looked at the altar, where her soon-to-be husband Alexander was already waiting for her. His cold gaze pierced through her soul as he stood there, dressed in a tailored blue suit, his long white hair cascading down his shoulders. His light blue eyes flickered, causing Bella's heart to skip a beat as she caught sight of him. He seemed almost like a god of fashion. Bella tried to tear her gaze away, but she couldn't help but be captivated by his presence. As she made her way towards the altar, Alexander extended his hand to help her up she hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to accept his gesture, But as he later accepted it, his hand was unbelievably warm while it remained on hers. She felt a jolt of electricity pass between their intertwined fingers. Slowly, he released her hand and they both turned to face the altar, purposely avoiding any lingering eye contact. Bella found it difficult to believe that she was getting married, until the moment they began exchanging vows and sliding wedding rings onto each other's fingers. The weight of the gold band on her hand served as a tangible reminder of the commitment she had just made. As soon as the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, Bella's heart skipped a beat. It sank in, causing a mix of apprehension to swirl within her. This was it, she thought with a tinge of hesitation, she had entered another chapter of her life she was now married to the icy prince.

   It seemed as though the guests couldn't wait for them to be pronounced husband and wife. They quickly started leaving the hall, emptying it in no time, until only she, her husband Alex, her stepmother, and Henry remained in the hall. Henry furrowed his brow, clearly confused about what had just happened. However, her stepmother seemed less concerned and didn't say a word. Alex walked majestically out of the hall, leaving Bella with an urge to call out to him, but he was already gone. Feeling a mixture of confusion and disappointment, Bella turned to her stepmother, hoping to find some answers. However, her stepmother maintained a nonchalant expression and remained silent. The tension in the hall was palpable as Bella tried to piece together the unexpected turn of events Henry, who was still puzzled by the sudden exodus of guests, approached Bella with a concerned look on his face. "Bella, what just happened? Why did everyone leave so suddenly?" he asked, his voice full of genuine confusion "I don't know, I... I seriously don't know," Bella stammered, her voice shaking. "Oh... Bella, they are just stressed. It will be alright. Besides, Henry and I have to leave now," Annabelle said. Bella's eyes widened. If Henry left her, she felt as though she would die before the next day. "Mom, can't I just stay for two days? We can't just leave her in this strange place, even though it's her wedding. Everyone is acting weird, including her husband. I have a bad feeling about this," Henry interrupted, his concern evident in his voice "Hush, Henry," Annabelle said firmly, trying to reassure him. "Bella will be just fine. She is married, and I am sure this kingdom will not harm her."

"But mom..." Henry hesitated, seeking a response from his mother "Henry," Annabelle interrupted, her voice stern. "We are leaving NOW!!!" Her frustration is evident as she nearly yells the words Henry lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of his mother's command. He glanced over at Bella, who was now standing nearby, her eyes filled with tears. Bella cried out his name and hastily flung herself into his waiting arms "Henry," she sobbed, her voice trembling with fear "Please don't leave me. I can't do this alone without you" Henry gently wrapped his arm around his sister's waist, pulling her closer and looking deeply into her eyes "I know, but..." He trailed off, feeling unsure about how to reassure her. They had always been intertwined in each other's lives since childhood, and it pained him to see her in distress without being able to offer immediate help. "I'm sure you can handle this, sis," he finally said, mustering confidence. "I'll visit you whenever I can, and I want you to have this." With a gentle touch, he removed a necklace from around his neck and carefully placed it around hers "Please, Bella," Henry pleaded, unable to hide the pain in his voice. "Promise me that you won't hesitate to reach out if things get worse with your husband. I'm here for you, always." Henry's voice cracked as he fought back tears, his love for Bella evident in his concern. Bella's heart broke at the sincerity in his words, whispering his name in acknowledgment as her tears streamed down her cheeks. Henry gently squeezed her hand, a mixture of sadness and reluctance evident on his face. Henry held her for a moment longer, their embrace filled with a deep sense of understanding. With a heavy sigh, he released her and turned his back, taking slow steps away. "Make sure you send me a message," he said with a hint of sadness, not looking back. "You know where to find me. I'll miss you, sis." Bella's heart shattered as she watched him fade into the distance. "I'll miss you too, Henry," she mumbled through her tears, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow.